Teen pot use drops in most states post legalization

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on December 16, 2017.

The teen use cannabis has shown a decreasing trend in most of the states which has legalized it, report suggests. As per data compiled by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the percentage of marijuana use among teens in Colorado is down by three points in 2015-2016 as compared to 2014-2015.

For Colorado, the rate of past-month marijuana use by teens between 12 to 17 years dropped from 11.3 percent in 2014-2015 to 9.08 percent in 2015-2016. The survey had used pooled two-year periods to increase sample sizes and statistical accuracy for state-level data. Colorado was ranked number 1 in teen cannabis use last year.

The results are contrary to objections raised by people against legalization of cannabis. Similarly, in Washington D.C., there has been a three-point drop in pot use among teens.

The drop in annual teen marijuana use was seen across the USA, but was less significant on other areas besides Colorado and Washington. The two states are the first ones to legalize marijuana. A marginal decline was also observed in Oregon. The data in Alaska, on the other hand, showed a slight increase in cannabis use among teens.

However, the data also shows an increase in the use of pot among young adults between 18 to 25 years and adults above 26 years.

The survey is against the belief that legalizing marijuana would lead to substantial increase in use by the adolescents. However, advocates argue that regulating the market has given teens less access to cannabis.